Happy Birthday, Caitlin!

California Girl at heart.....





"human beings are not born once and for all on the day their mothers give birth to them, but...life obliges them over and over again to give birth to themselves..." Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Wish that we could take credit for the marvelous young woman you are...but you've done too much of the creative work yourself...challenging yourself....opening yourself to new experiences...beautiful soul...amazing spirit...YOU!

"...I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you different....we're dancing animals. You know, we love to move around". Kurt Vonnegut

...sometimes ya just gotta dance! "Dancie" sends her love....(should be a picture here of you in your tights and tutu...but all of a sudden my 'puter got cranky and won't let me access any more pix)....


"I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, "If this isn't nice, I don't know what is."
Kurt Vonnegut "Knowing What's Nice", an essay from In These Times (2003)

You are compassionate...and mindful of the simple joys...the extraordinary wonder of life......today...celebrate YOU....we do!

Happy Birthday! (now go dance and fart around....and thoroughly enjoy your day!).
WE LOVE YOU!!!

Leonard/Martin Turkey Celebration

As you all can see:
1. Kevin and Jerry spent some time discussing how to cook a turkey
2. Ashley kicked Rachel's butt in Wii bowling
3. Mary Beth channeled her inner rap star
4. Finally, after 5 days together, we were all going a little nutty!

Hope everyone had a great time together (we did!)

my california christmas...err... thanksgiving

A co-worker was out of town and let my friends and I use her nice big house (complete with swimming pool, hot tub, and outdoor bar) for our dinner if we took care of her giant newfoundland dogs.



We had two turkeys. One we deep fried. It was delicious.


The other we cooked in a meat smoker. That one tasted like smoke. We also had a ham. And all sorts of other stuff, but I'm not gonna list all that. You get the idea. If you are really dying to know, think about what you had. It was probably a lot like that. I will mention the pie. There was pie. Lots of pie.

It was a great time and everyone ate lots of turkey and ham and pie and other thins and had a fun time. The end.

This is a time lapse video from my Thanksgiving in L.A.:

Tomas Hoffman - Timelapse - Thanksgiving 2007

Mahoney & Friends Thanksgiving 2007 (East Coast Contingent)

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. ~Thornton Wilder

Mahoney Thanksgiving 2007 was wonderful. Though we missed Devin very very much (but YEAH, he'll be with us in a few weeks for Christmas!). We were blessed with the presence Caitlin and Meghan, Dave, our talented official T'day photographer, Kaya and Michael and Suzanne and Jonathon. Sadly, Tibi and Luke did not make their now "traditional" appearane with the fam. :~(

Definite highlights to the day, in addition to the marvelous cuisine (compliments of head chef, Meghan....Pastry Chef, Dave...and well, EVERYONE...we had TONS of amazing dishes...including Southwestern Cornbread stuffing in honor of Luke...his stuffing made it though he was in absentia) included:

• Turning the fitness center back into the dining room;
• The assemble the new table/football spectator challenge;
• The first annual "Love Onion" toss (ed. note, I am corrected by Meghan in this, to wit, "It's the "Onion OF Love"..not the Love Onion...what, do you think it's the spawn of some hippie?") ;
• The first annual "Turkey Joint pull";
• Cowgirl bucking event;
• Touch football (the home team showed good etiquette by throwing the home court advantage);
• The Great Black Friday middle of the night shopping adventure;
• and last, but not least, the liesurely and most enjoyable post feast day brunch to close the festivities....a good time was had by all.....Did I forget anything, Team?

Thanks to all who joined us to make the day so wonderful....and love to all of our family and friends with whom we were not able to share this day...but who were ever present in our hearts and minds.

Caitlin, Kathy, Kevin & Meghan (we all missed Devin VERY MUCH...he couldn't make it this year!)


(above right) first annual T'day Turkey Joint Pull bottom right: post dinner cowgirl acrobat show







Top left: no leftovers for Simon J. Bear! (and before the comments start about how i love Simon best 'cause his photo is at top, I'm not that conversant in how to work all the posting bells and whistles....and apparently the last photos loaded appear at top....so that's why!...and NO, cOm I do NOT love Simon best...lets review our reading comprehension (reference above)...have we had our heads stuck in the dissertation mire for too long?...though Simon IS very sweet).





Hope EVERYONE had a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving!

Erin's Cali T'day

Sorry, I wasn't able to take any pictures! However, I went with Chris to stay with his sister in Bakersfield. It was awesome, lots of family, he has a huge family with lots of nieces and nephews. It was busy but very nice! It was beautiful weather and delicious turkey, although the stuffing had nothing on my mom's stuffing!Love Erin

Busch/Cinquemani Thanksgiving 2007

According to Sue:
"We had a great time ,Alfonse andSuzie cooked the dinner,made "Holiday Drinks"..Al's Mom Carmela was there tooAKA Nonna.I have a photo but don't how to send it. DUH.I think we need to get" Joanne's" stuffing for the next timePlease send..

Happy Holidays,

Love to all,Sue

AKA Sixth Sister"

Thanksgiving request

Since we'll all be scattered hither, thither and non across the country for T'day....it will be great if everyone takes pictures of each Thanksgiving celebration and posts them here on the family blog...along with a written "narrative" of how you celebrate the Holiday....where...who....whatcha do....etc. (OMG...I sound like Daddy quizzing us before we went out anywhere! LOL). It will be a great way to bring us all together when circumstances and geography preclude a big family gathering....and exactly what this blog is supposed to be about...SO Share away!!! Thanks!

Hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Love,
Kathy

Happy Birthday Meghan!

"She wasn't afraid to travel down an open road with nothing but horizon to keep her company" pieces of a girl .....well...the horizon, Special Teddy and Tim Tam to be more exact..

Happy Birthday, Megger Gooch!

Happy Anniversary Jeanne & Chris!

Marriage is an Athenic weaving together of families, of two souls with
their individual fates and destinies, of time and eternity--everyday life
married to the timeless mysteries of the soul. Thomas Moore

Congratulations, Jeanne & Chris. Hope today contains wonderful memories of special times and continued dreams of a beautiful future together...Happy Anniversary!